A policeman and two others were killed in clashes between residents of two villages over a land dispute in Manipur's Ukhrul district. Internet has been snapped in the area, and large gatherings have been banned. Several people were also injured in the clashes.
The clashes broke out between residents of the two villages while they were cleaning a plot of land as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programme, the police said.
Both villages belong to the Naga tribes, and residents in the two villages have been laying claim to the disputed land.
The state police along with the Assam Rifles have been deployed to bring the situation under control.
"I am extremely pained to inform about the unfortunate incident of violence in and around Ukhrul district headquarters today, causing death of three people including two civilians and one MR (Manipur Rifles) personnel and injuries to many," Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a statement.
Mr Singh said the government has started the process of giving compensation to the families of those who were killed and to people who were injured, adding the injured people are being treated at hospitals in Imphal and Ukhrul.
Three Naga MLAs – Leishiyo Keishing, Khashim Vashum, and Ram Muivah – in a joint statement appealed to the people "to step back from the brink of further escalation."
"Let us not allow this moment to shatter what generations have built. No victory can be found in the pain of our brothers and sisters…" they said.
In another development, the Manipur Police have flashed a message to all district police heads to remain on "high alert" due to the "present law and order situation". "All officers, police stations, outposts, nakas etc should remain on high alert," the police said in the message.
